RIP George Mikan

[CanadianChris 0]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – George Mikan, professional basketball's first dominant big man, who led the Minneapolis Lakers to five NBA championships, has died, family members said Thursday. He was 80.

 

Six-foot-10 with thick glasses, Mikan was so effective as a center at DePaul that he forced the NCAA to adopt the goaltending rule.

 

Mikan had suffered from diabetes and kidney failure. One leg was amputated several years ago, and he recently was hospitalized for six weeks for treatment of a diabetes wound in the other leg. He also underwent kidney dialysis three days a week.

 

Last Saturday, he was moved from the hospital to a rehabilitation center, his son, Terry, said. He died Wednesday night, according to family members.

 

Mikan's Lakers won five of the first six NBA titles after the league was formed in 1948. He averaged 23.1 points per game in seven seasons with Minneapolis before retiring because of injuries in 1956. Mikan was the league's MVP in its inaugural 1948-49 season, when he averaged 28.3 points in leading the Lakers to the NBA title.

 

A statue was erected in honor of the NBA Hall of Famer outside the Target Center in Minneapolis.

 

In recent years, Mikan had spoken out against the small pensions given to those who played in the league before 1965. Terry Mikan said most of his father's awards and memorabilia had been sold. Mikan received a monthly pension check of $1,000, his son said.

 

It's always a sad day when a true legend passes on.

[Guest news_gimmick]

RIP

 

He definately set a prototype for the dominant big man. It's a shame he was in such bad shape these last few years, but he's in a better place now.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Shaq to pay for funeral expenses

 

MIAMI - The family of George Mikan accepted Shaquille O’Neal’s offer to pay for the late center’s funeral expenses.

 

O’Neal said arrangements were finalized Friday. “Everything’s going to be handled,” O’Neal said.

 

Mikan, the NBA’s first dominant big man, died Wednesday night at a rehabilitation center in Scottsdale, Ariz., following a long fight with diabetes and kidney ailments. He was 80.

 

O’Neal said he greatly enjoyed getting to know and speak with Mikan on several occasions. Shortly after the Heat beat Detroit 88-76 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night, O’Neal said he would like to handle the funeral costs.

 

“I’d like to send my condolences to the Mikan family,” O’Neal said. “I heard they were having some trouble, some problems, so if you contact the Heat office, I would like to pay for the funeral.”

 

O’Neal and Mikan are linked by leading the Lakers franchise to multiple NBA championships; Mikan carried the Minneapolis Lakers to five titles in a six-year span. O’Neal led the Los Angeles Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000-2002.

 

O’Neal credits Mikan as someone who helped lay the framework for what the NBA is today.

 

“Without No. 99, there is no me,” said O’Neal, referring to Mikan by his jersey number.

 

Terry Mikan said he appreciated O’Neal’s offer.

 

“It just speaks to what Shaquille is all about,” Mikan’s son said. “He had a bond with my dad. They were close friends.”

 

O’Neal and Mikan were both selected to the NBA’s list of 50 greatest players, and the two dominant big men of their eras met several times.

 

“He was a great man. We had many, many conversations,” O’Neal said. “Very nice to me. I know what he was and I know what he did.”

 

Both O’Neal and Mikan led the Lakers franchise to multiple NBA championships; Mikan carried the Minneapolis Lakers to five titles in a six-year span, O’Neal led the Los Angeles Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000-2002.

 

“Frankly, without George Mikan, the Los Angeles Lakers would not be the organization we are today,” said Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss.

 

Others at the Eastern Conference finals offered their sentiments on Mikan, including Heat president Pat Riley, who called Mikan “the model for all big men that followed him.”

 

“A truly genuine human being as well as a great player. He made the game what it is today,” Riley said.

[Dangerous A 0]

Kudos to Shaq for that gesture. The Players Association really needs to look into helping their own once they have retired. Guys like Mikan are the reason these guys can live the lives they do. Shaq recognizes that. Game respects Game I say.

[Fökai 0]

The Players Association really needs to look into helping their own once they have retired. Guys like Mikan are the reason these guys can live the lives they do.

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On that note, did you see the SportsCenter feature-piece on Mikan a few Sundays ago?

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Kudos to Shaq, thats a great great gesture. I gained lots of respect for him doing this.

[Guest Mosaicv2]

Wasn't he one of the first true Lakers?

[Dangerous A 0]

Mikan was a member of the Minneapolis Lakers.

[Beast 0]

Always thought Shaq was a classy guy, this just reiterates that for me. But wasn't there just a topic about how the NBA and the NBA players were selfish because Mikan was only getting half a pension because he played earlier than like 60-something, so he didn't have enough money to pay for his medical expenses. Everyone was saying how all the players and officials should remember who laid the groundwork for the league and how 20,000 bucks would be nothing to the players to give to Mikan.

 

"Others at the Eastern Conference finals offered their sentiments on Mikan"

 

Well kinda of weird how all these players are paying tribute to him now.

[Sass 0]

Mikan should have been treated better by folks after he retired.

 

RIP.

[The Czech Republic 0]

They could've put the Mark Cuban Swear Jar towards Mikan's pension if they wanted.

[alfdogg 0]

I just read that Mikan was the person who gave former Pacer coach "Slick" Leonard his nickname. You learn something new every day.

 

R.I.P.

[Ripper 0]

You know seriously, all this NBA PLAYERS ARE SELFISH stuff, can I ask one question?

 

What the fuck was his son doing? I mean, he was raised with a fairly good salary for the time, I am assuming he has a job, his dad brings in 20,000 a year...you telling me you couldn't help him out?